Two-zone comforter system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a two-zone comforter system enabling two individuals sharing a bed to regulate individual temperatures separately. The two-zone comforter system comprises a lower panel that is continuous across the width of the two-zone comforter system. A first upper panel and a second upper panel extend lengthwise from the lower panel and define a first and second sleeping zone. The first and second upper panels further comprise a compartmentalized overlapping flap containing magnets. The magnets of the first upper panel and the magnets of the second overlapping panel are of opposing polarity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common situation arising when two persons share a bed relates todifferences in temperature preference. Some individuals prefer a warmertemperature whereas other prefer a cooler temperature. A problem canarise when one of these individuals makes an adjustment to suit theirpreference by shifting the position of a common blanket or comforter.For example, if a warm individual chooses to down-regulate their bodytemperature by pushing the blanket towards their feet, this canpartially uncover the individual desiring to remain warm. This tensioncan result in loss of sleep. A need exists for a two-zone (orbifurcated) comforter system that will accommodate individualtemperature preferences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in one aspect, to a two-zone comforterhaving a defined length and width. The two-zone comforter comprises alower panel that is continuous across the width of the two-zonecomforter and a first upper panel and a second upper panel extendinglengthwise from the lower panel and defining a first sleeping zone and asecond sleeping zone. The first upper panel and the second upper paneleach comprise a compartmentalized overlapping flap containing oppositelycharged magnets for reversibly joining the first and second upperpanels. In preferred embodiments, the oppositely charged magnets areneodymium magnets which are commonly available in a wide variety ofshapes and sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the two-zone comforter system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a magnified view of a region of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view shown along line 3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a two-zone comforter system designedand constructed for use with a sleeping mattress designed to accommodatetwo persons. In the United States, common mattress nomenclature used todescribe such mattresses are double, queen or king-sized mattresses. Thetwo-zone comforter system of the present invention is sized with anoverall length and an overall width to adequately cover two individualslying on a mattress of the type described.

Materials employed in the construction of the two-zone comforter systemof the present invention are ordinary textiles, threads and insulatingmaterials. There is no limitation on color or ornamental designfeatures. Other elements of the two-zone comforter system of the presentinvention that will be described more fully below are oppositely chargedmagnets, preferably neodymium magnets. The term “comforter” as usedherein, is intended to encompass a blanket, as well as a comforter.Comforters typically comprise an outer textile cover with an insulatingfiller layer, whereas a blanket is typically a monolayer.

A neodymium magnet is a type of rare earth permanent magnet producedfrom an alloy of neodymium, boron and iron to form a crystallinestructure of Nd₂Fe₁₄B. Neodymium magnets are generally recognized as thestrongest type of permanent magnet available and have supplanted othertypes of magnets in many commercial applications. Neodymium magnets arebroadly available in a wide array of shapes and sizes including block orbar; disc or cylinder; ring and sphere. Any shape may be employed inconnection with the present invention although, as discussed in greaterdetail below, disc or ring shapes are preferred.

The two-zone comforter system of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 1 is a top view of thetwo-zone comforter system (1) of the present invention. The two-zonecomforter system comprises a lower panel (3) that is continuous acrossthe width of the two-zone comforter system. Although there is no formalrequirement for stitching across the upper boundary (5) of the lowerpanel (3) in preferred embodiments reinforcing stitching is providedacross the width of the two-zone comforter system (1) to define theupper boundary (5) of the lower panel (3) thereby reducing thelikelihood of textile ripping during use.

The two-zone comforter system (1) further comprises a first upper panel(7) and a second upper panel (9). The first and second upper panels (7and 9, respectively) extend lengthwise from the upper boundary (5) oflower panel (3) thereby defining a first sleeping zone and a secondsleeping zone. It is not a strict requirement of the present inventionthat the first and second upper panels (7 and 9, respectively) be ofequivalent dimension, although this will be the case in commonembodiments. While the length of the first and second panels will beequivalent by design, the width may be skewed to provide a greater widthin either the first or the second panel in situations wherein a largesize differential exists between the two individual who intend to usethe two-zone comforter system (1).

In all embodiments, the width of the first upper panel (7) plus thewidth of the second upper panel (9) exceeds the overall width of thetwo-zone comforter system (1). Because the exterior lengthwise edge (11)of the first upper panel (7) and the exterior lengthwise edge (13) ofthe second upper panel (9) align with the two exterior edges (15 and 17)of the lower panel (3), the fact that the combined overall width of thefirst and second upper panels (7 and 9) exceeds the overall width of thetwo-zone comforter system (1) creates an overlapping portion of thefirst and second upper panels (7 and 9) in the area defined by theirrespective interior lengthwise edges (19 and 21). This overlappingportion may be referred to herein as the magnetic zone (23).

The magnetic zone (23) is preferably between 0.5 inch and 6 inches inwidth, and more preferably between 1 and 3 inches in width. Referring toFIG. 2, the magnetic zone (23) of both the first upper panel (7) and thesecond upper panel (9) is stitched to form a plurality of magnetcompartments (25). FIG. 2 shows neodymium magnets of the disc variety(27) in broken lines within the magnet compartments (25). The magnetcompartments (25) of the first and second upper panels (7 and 9) willcontain magnets of opposing polarity. The attractive forces of themagnets of opposing polarity will function to hold the magnetic zones(23) of the first upper panel (7) and the second upper panel (9)together in overlapping fashion to provide maximum warmth to bothindividual using the two-zone comforter system. Spacing betweensame-polarity magnets within the magnetic compartments (25) of the firstand second upper panels can be variable and need not be uniform. Thisspacing is preferably from 0.5 inch to 12 inches between same-polaritymagnets, with 1 inch to 3 inch spacing being more preferred. What isimportant is that the magnets of the first and second upper panels alignwith one another when the blanket/comforter is spread evenly. Thisalignment is important to allow opposite polarity magnets to pair.

If one of the individuals becomes warm, a gentle force applied to themagnetic zone (23) will reversibly separate the paired neodymium magnetsallowing the warm individual to uncover themselves while not disturbingthe insulation of the other individual. This step can be easily reversedif the uncovered individual desires more warmth by simply recovering andaligning the magnetic zones (23) of the first upper panel (7) and secondupper panel (9). Use of the compartmentalized magnets is superior toalternative methods (e.g., zipper or Velcro) by virtue of the relativesilence of operation and lack of irritation by contact.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the magnetic zone (23) along line 3 ofFIG. 2. Overlapping portions of first upper panel (7) and second upperpanel (9) are shown with a pair of oppositely charged neodymium magnets(27) maintaining the overlapping alignment. Stitching is shown on bothsides of each magnet and this stitching defines boundaries of themagnetic compartments (25). While FIG. 3 shows a comforter having acover and a distinct insulating layer, one skilled in the art willrecognize that the term comforter, as used herein, encompasses a blankedproduced from a monolayer of material, such as fleece.

1. A two-zone comforter having a length and width, the two-zonecomforter comprising: a. a lower panel that is continuous across thewidth of the two-zone comforter; b. a first upper panel and a secondupper panel extending lengthwise from the lower panel and defining afirst sleeping zone and a second sleeping zone, wherein the first upperpanel and the second upper panel each comprise a compartmentalizedoverlapping flap, and wherein the compartments of the compartmentalizedoverlapping flap of the first and second upper panels contain oppositelycharged magnets for reversibly joining the first and second upperpanels.
 2. The two-zone comforter of claim 1 wherein the area covered bythe comforter when fully spread, with the oppositely charged magnets ofthe compartmentalized overlapping flaps of the first upper panel and thesecond upper panel being paired, is substantially equal to the productof the length times the width of the two-zone comforter.
 3. The two-zonecomforter of claim 1 wherein the oppositely charged magnets areneodymium magnets.
 4. The two-zone comforter of claim 1 wherein theneodymium magnets are selected from the group consisting block or barmagnets.
 5. The two-zone comforter of claim 1 wherein the neodymiummagnets are selected from the group consisting disc or cylinder magnets.6. The two-zone comforter of claim 1 wherein the neodymium magnets arering magnets.
 7. The two-zone comforter of claim 1 wherein the neodymiummagnets are sphere magnets.
 8. The two-zone comforter of claim 1 that issized to accommodate a mattress selected from the group consisting ofking size, queen size or double.